Wednesday, 22 April 2009

Today saw the first trip by a loco ('Thunderbox') along our new 'back straight' section, following some very hard work by our 'Track Gang' (and others !), which now sees all the ballast placed and the track lined in. The track now needs levelling and tamping, completion of which will enable all of our new trackwork to be in use on our first 2009 Open Day on Sunday May 3rd.

We look forward to welcoming you then!

We have also been busy creosoting (with 'pretend' stuff) our timber track crossings, another coat of timber treatment has been applied to the gable wall of our Clubroom (hopefully the last!), trimming the track edges and weeding the track (part that is, more on Saturday!), we have given a good feed to our roses and to the climbers (Wysteria, Clematis & Honeysuckle) in our 'green' tunnel section, some spraying of the ground under the tree & bushes areas has started, to keep down the weeds, and a goose has been seen on the Lake, wow!

Monday, 20 April 2009

Yesterday (Sunday 19th April) saw some 16 ALRC members, family & friends visiting the home of Ken Wallis (of Autogyro fame). We were treated to a fascinating tour of Ken's collection of over 20 AutoGyros and general aviation artefacts, which includes 2 new engines from a Blackburn & General 'Beverley' transport aircraft! remember them?This remarkable man, now in his 93rd year, gave us a demonstration flight in his 'Zeus III' autogyro from his private airstrip at his home near Reymerston in Norfolk. A fascinating visit and should you get the chance to visit or attend one of his talks (he is doing 96 this year!!) make sure you do, he has many fascinating stories to tell, what a memory!

Monday, 6 April 2009

Time marches on and we have been busy as you would expect at this time of year......Hotspur is back together again and cleaned ready for duty.....

Photo: George Aldridge

..Lucille is also back in one piece after her 'amendments' and her re painting is well on the way with just the tender to complete......

Photo: George Aldridge

The General & Coach 40 were brought out and are seen here prior to a gentle amble around the circuit.

Photo: George Aldridge

...we had a good day on Saturday at the Norwich Model Railway Exhibition with the ALR display stand, where we met a lot of old friends and hopefully made some new ones, as a lot of interest was shown in our railway......

...some of our 'Gang' took part in the Macmillan Charity walk along the Bure Valley Railway's footpath on Sunday, all helping to raise money for this very worthwhile Charity, and what a lovely day it was for the walk too.....

...we are still painting the exterior of our Clubroom and Workshop building with the third, and hopefully, the final coat underway, so we will be smart for our first Open Day on May 3rd......

....and we have created a small rose garden in front of the signal box which should provide a splash of colour during the summer months.

About the ALR

The Ashmanhaugh Light Railway is a 7¼ inch gauge railway, set in the beautiful North Norfolk countryside, within earshot of the whistles of the Bure Valley Railway and the Bittern Line trains. It really is well worth a visit, a must for any rail enthusiast.

How to find us

We're just past Wroxham off the Stalham Road at Beeston St Lawrence (signposted Ashmanhaugh) or if you come to Wroxham Barns take the first right after the Barns, then left at the crossroads and the Railway is on the left, just follow the signs on Open Days.